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Midsummer Sale: Ace wins All-Star Final Vote

White Sox starter Chris Sale won the Final Vote against stiff competition and was added to the AL roster for the 2014 All-Star Game

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- The 2014 All-Star Game taking place at Target Field on Tuesday in Minneapolis soon will become a Sale family affair.

After Chris Sale officially won the American League Final Vote as announced Thursday evening, amassing 6.7 million votes, the beaming White Sox hurler mentioned that his wife, Brianne, his son, Rylan, his parents and his in-laws will all be making the trip for his third straight All-Star appearance. Sale actually is trying to get more family members involved.

The left-hander also thought these Final Vote results served as a solid testament to a great sports city such as Chicago, with the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo winning the National League Final Vote.

"Yeah, I thought that was pretty cool. I think that's something special for the city and for Chicago sports," Sale said after the Red Sox's 4-3 victory in 10 innings over his team Thursday. "Obviously, I have to show my appreciation to the friends and family and the fans that voted.

"This is because of them. If I do pitch, I have to pitch good, right?"

Sale became the fourth White Sox winner in the history of the competition out of an all-time record 11 candidates. No team has as many Final Vote wins as the White Sox.

During his final first-half start Wednesday, Sale allowed one run on four hits over 7 2/3 innings against the Red Sox, striking out six and not issuing a walk in a no-decision brought on when the White Sox bullpen couldn't hold a four-run lead. He missed 32 games and six starts due to a flexor muscle strain in his left arm but has produced an 8-1 record with a 2.08 ERA over 14 starts and 95 innings pitched. He has fanned 102, walked 16 and allowed 64 hits, placing him as one of the elite pitchers in the game.

"He's as good as anybody," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "I know it seems biased, but you start looking at pitchers around the league and you can tell by the at-bats and swings guys have. … He's as good as anybody."

"It's pretty awesome what he's been able to do," said White Sox hurler Scott Carroll of his teammate. "For him to be able to throw 95 or 96 [mph] and command all his pitches, it's a tribute to him and how good he is."

Most White Sox personnel tried to figure out how a player of Sale's talent and accomplishment even needed to go through the Final Vote process, an experience that the 25-year-old thoroughly enjoyed.

"I don't know how he went to the Final Vote," said White Sox starter Jose Quintana, who pitched like an All-Star on Thursday by setting down the first 15 Red Sox hitters and allowing two hits and three runs over seven innings during his 34th no-decision since 2012. "He made the All-Star team his first two years, and it's his best year.

"For me, he's the best lefty in the American League. The focus in the game for him is really good. Every time, he starts ahead in the count. He has three nasty pitches. I'm excited when he throws. I'm focused on him and every time we have a chance to win the game."

Not one vote was cast by Sale for himself, although he did go through seven media interviews Tuesday as part of the #TargetSale campaign process.

"That was about more than I've done all year I think," a smiling Sale said.

Now he gets to follow up three scoreless career All-Star innings with a Midsummer Classic experience that never will get old.

"No, I definitely still get excited. I definitely still am appreciative of being able to experience that and do that again," Sale said. "No matter how many you make, you still get excited about it. It's a fun experience, especially to have my family up there with me to experience it with them. Looking to have another good time."

The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again allow fans to help choose the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com and via Twitter in the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

MLB.TV Premium subscribers, for the first time, will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 platforms that support MLB.TV, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.